“Do not grow weary in doing good, for our light affliction is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 – 18
My wife taught me to power walk as an alternative to running to save my aging knees. God taught me to power walk through life, putting one foot in front of another and simply
Never Give Up
Of course there are hills, sometimes steep ones that get in the way and slow the walk. Throughout scripture God never said life would be easy, but He did promise that we can have a fulfilling journey. He promised that we would find peace in Him, that He would lift us up, that He would never leave us nor forsake us. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, do not grow weary in doing good. Put your power walking shoes on and put one foot in front of the other. There is fulfillment waiting in the journey.
“…Who led us through the wilderness…” Jeremiah 2:6
We all find ourselves wandering through the wilderness from time to time. Our minds will find a dimly lit corner and there we sit, playing and replaying an endless loop of whatever trouble or turmoil we are going through.
Through Does Not Have To Equal Stay
There are a myriad of scripture verses that talk about God’s children being led through the wilderness, the key word being THROUGH. They did not stay in the wilderness, they moved through it and experienced God’s promises and presence all along the way. No journey is easy but they were not alone. Neither are you.
God is our God, our provider and our protector, the ultimate warm blanket of comfort. As I walk beside still waters I am reminded that God is in every detail of my life. From stormy seas to tranquil waters and everything in-between. I breathe and His name is on my lips. I slumber and I feel His protection. I work and I feel Him carrying me. What is faith?
Faith Is A Relationship, Beyond Words.
It is the soul reaching toward heaven only to find that God was right beside you all along, just waiting for you to look into His eyes and say yes.
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13
The words “I forgive you” do not cross our lips as easily as they should. We have a unique ability to hurt others, and an even more unique ability to hold on to that hurt. Sometimes you just need to mix up that scrabble board in your mind and figure out a way to get the message out.
Forgive
Christ did it as he hung on a cross, and even found a personal justification in doing so by saying, “Father forgive them, for they just don’t know what they are doing.” Ignorance of the law doesn’t hold up in a United States Court, but it was enough for Christ to forgive us and lift our burden. Pay it forward today and forgive someone.
“forgetting those things which are behind, I press forward…” Philippians 3:13
A few years ago there was a sanitation workers strike happening in my neck of the world. As you can see from the photo above I watched what started as a seemingly insignificant few extra boxes next to a dumpster grow into something that the Grinch would behold as his prized garden on “Mount Crumpit”. Yet even growing piles of refuse contain a valuable lesson, a reminder to take out the trash.
We carry around with us a lot of trash.
We carry hurt feelings, grudges, and past mistakes that fester within us and pretty soon start to look very similar to the image above. Today, the apostle Paul reminds us that in forgetting those things which are behind, we can press forward. Why not take out the trash in your mind and leave it at a curb called the cross. Jesus has already paid the price to take on and carry out our garbage. Consider making today trash collection day.
“Let patience have it’s perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. James 1:4
I have often said to friends and family that I’ve stopped asking God to give me more patience. Because, whenever I asked for patience, I would invariably be hit with five more things that I needed to have patience with. I then realized that whenever I’ve asked God for patience what I was really asking for was to have my own way, not His. James 1:4 says, “let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”.
God Knows What You Need!
And God knows when you need it. He knows the strength you need, the confidence, and the will power to climb life’s mountains. God is the only One who can do a perfect work in you so that you lack nothing. Trust Him and you will be amazed at the results!
“Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation…” Genesis 1:11
There is a magnificent garden on Victoria Island in Canada called The Butchart Gardens. The Gardens were created as a result of the scarred landscape of mining for limestone. The landowner’s wife, Jennie Butchart, looked at the scarred landscape one day and was saddened by what she beheld. Thus began a decades long quest for a garden. The picture you see above is one of the rare photos in these pages that I actually took myself, and it simply does not do these gardens justice. They are extraordinary.
God is in the “spectacular” business.
Think about it. God created this beautiful planet, then decided that it was not enough and created you and I. We are the spectacular design He had in mind. Look around you today, but do it through Gods eyes. Every person has inside of them a spectacular garden just waiting to blossom. Yes, I’m talking about you.
Jesus said, “I pray for them…that they may be one as We are…” John 17:9-11
There is a path that I walk as much as I am able to do so. The walk takes you along a wonderfully expansive park with wide open spaces that includes playgrounds and picnic tables spread along a waterfront path. As I walk, invariably I will wave or say hello to those I meet, and a wave or smile is almost always returned. It’s occurred to me that I really don’t know the lives of all of the people I meet. What are their discouragements or their joys. Do they have family or friends they are close to? What keeps them up at night, or makes them laugh. In the moment we pass each other, they are just fellow journey takers out to enjoy the day. How disconnected we really are from one another. Perhaps that’s why two thousand years ago, Jesus prayed for us.
Yes, Jesus actually prays for you.
Interesting to think about that statement for a minute. To think that the Savior of the world is praying for us is a mind bender for me. His prayer was simple yet powerful, that we would be one as He and the Father are one. Unity is really a decision we need to choose, perhaps on a daily basis. I’d never really thought that I could be the answer to Jesus prayer, but I’ve changed my mindset. I’ve decided to care more about those I meet along life’s journey, yes even those who seem not so easy to like, let alone love. Today, you can be the answer to Jesus’ prayer. I’ll do my best to do my part. Care to join me?
“…I hope to see you while passing through and have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while”. Romans 15:24
Two brothers walk up the hill past our home every morning and every evening. You can almost set your clock by them. Indeed their gait is slow after eight plus decades of making journeys together across this earth, yet time has not diminished their tenacity. Twice each day they make the trek from their home up a long and winding road, to a small crest in the hill, before the journey back home begins. I’ve greeted them often and found that one simple word will cause the journey to pause long enough for a lengthy conversation to issue. “Your garden’s looking good young man,” and, “How’s that bride of yours,” are a few their favorites. Then I began to notice that these conversations happen a lot with neighbors all up and down the hill. Only after a lengthy pause to enjoy their neighbors will the journey will begin again. Recently one of the brothers made the comment to me, “Can you do something about this hill? It’s a bit steep.” Then, a wink.
There Is Power In Fellowship.
Fellowship along your journey makes life worth living. Sometimes we are so focused on the destination that we miss the entire reason we are making a journey to begin with. Find a reason to pause, and chat, and laugh with those who journey with you, and with all those you meet along the way.
“Those who dwell in the secret place of the most High shall dwell under the shadow of the Almighty” Psalm 91:1
It was after dark and I was already in bed as a young child when I heard the conversation at the front door outside my bedroom. I knew what was going on. No one had to tell me. I’d seen the suitcase before I went to bed, and even as an eight year old I was clever enough to read the atmosphere in the house. I did not know the details, but I knew some of them and that was enough. After a few minutes of muffled conversation outside my door my father came in quietly and said that he was leaving. I knew what that meant also. I asked him not to go and he gave a sad nod and turned to leave anyway. As the door closed behind him, in a moment of fear, my thoughts quickly turned to “where’s Mom”. Then I heard her footfall in the hallway not far from my door and I knew she wasn’t going anywhere. Through tears, as a car started outside, somehow my thoughts turned toward heaven. “God, where are you? Are you leaving too?” The words were just beyond my lips when I felt a flood of peace wash over me that I could not explain. Today I know what that peace was, but as a child, it was simply,
A hug from heaven.
It’s not the first time I’d received such a hug, nor was it the last. I’ve had a lifetime filled with them. So can you. When our thoughts turn toward God, in a moment of sincerity, you are now dwelling in the secret place of the most High, and you are covered by the shadow of the Almighty. And that’s just the beginning. Do yourself a favor today and read Psalm 91. By the end of reading this incredible list of promises from God, you will surely be dwelling in the secret place of the Most High. Thats when the hugs begin.
You must be logged in to post a comment.